JP2013180715A - Led unit - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is an LED unit that can be used for various applications with only one LED unit and that can reduce manufacturing costs.
An LED unit (2) includes a functional unit (5) including an LED (9) that emits irradiation light, and a housing (6) that houses the functional unit (5) and has an opening cylinder (15) that allows the irradiation light to pass therethrough. The opening tube portion 15 is formed to communicate with both ends of the insertion hole 21 inside the opening tube portion 15 and the insertion hole 21 into which the lens 25 is inserted. And a locking structure provided with an annular guide groove 22 disposed so as to intersect with the axis of. The locking structure is further provided with an insertion groove 24 extending from the one end 19 side to the inside along the axis of the opening cylinder portion 15 and communicating with the annular guide groove 22, and the insertion groove 24 is provided at one end of the light guide 29. The engagement portion 31 is formed in a size that allows the engagement portion 31 to be inserted, and the annular guide groove 22 can rotate when the engagement portion 31 is inserted into the insertion groove 24.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an LED unit on which various optical components can be mounted by one locking structure.

  In recent years, indoor lighting devices using LEDs (light emitting diodes) as light sources have come to be used in order to reduce the size and save energy in vehicles and the like. An LED unit to which this LED is applied as a light source is disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, for example.

  The LED unit disclosed in Patent Document 1 below is used as a vehicle interior illumination lamp, and contains a housing that has at least an LED that emits irradiation light and that has an open cylindrical portion that allows the irradiation light to pass therethrough. It has.

An insertion hole for inserting a lens is formed on a side surface of the opening cylinder portion, and annular guide grooves communicating with both ends of the insertion hole are formed so as to intersect the axial direction of the opening cylinder portion. Further, a locking portion for locking the lens is formed inside the opening cylinder portion.
That is, in the opening cylinder portion, a lens locking structure is configured by the insertion hole, the annular guide groove, and the locking portion.

When the lens is inserted through the insertion hole and pushed in as it is, the lens is guided by the guide groove and inserted into the inside of the opening cylindrical portion and is locked by the locking portion. If it does so, a lens will be arrange | positioned crossing with respect to the axial direction of an opening cylinder part.
When the irradiation light passes through the lens in such a state, the irradiation light is blurred if, for example, fine irregularities are processed on the lens surface. Moreover, if the pigment | dye and fluorescent substance are added to the lens material, it can convert into the color different from the original irradiation light.

  In the above-described configuration and structure, since the lens locking structure in the opening tube portion is simple, the irradiation light can be easily scattered and the colors can be converted by exchanging the lenses.

JP 2010-177040 A

By the way, in the above prior art, the irradiation light is scattered and the hue is converted by exchanging the lens by using the lens locking structure in the opening cylinder, but other optical components other than the lens are used. Even if it is desired to adopt the above-mentioned, since it does not have a locking structure corresponding to this, it is impossible to mount such other optical components.
Therefore, it is necessary to manufacture a dedicated LED unit having a locking structure corresponding to various optical components, and there is a problem that the manufacturing cost increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and by performing mounting of various optical components using only one locking structure, it is possible to cope with various uses with only one LED unit, It aims at providing the LED unit which can reduce the cost which concerns on manufacture of an LED unit.

The irradiation light conversion device of the present invention according to claim 1, which has been made to solve the above-described problems, includes an LED that emits irradiation light, a functional unit that includes the LED, and a housing that accommodates the functional unit and passes the irradiation light. A housing formed with an opening cylinder portion to be
The opening cylinder part is formed in a side surface of the opening cylinder part and into which a lens is inserted, and is formed in communication with both ends of the insertion hole inside the opening cylinder part so that the lens can reciprocate freely. In an LED unit comprising a locking structure that is provided with an annular guide groove that is guided to and arranged to intersect with the axis of the opening cylinder portion,
The locking structure further includes an insertion groove that extends along the axis of the opening cylinder part from one end side of the opening cylinder part to the inside of the opening cylinder part, and communicates with the annular guide groove,
The insertion groove is formed in a size that allows an engagement portion provided at one end of a light guide that guides the irradiation light to be inserted,
The annular guide groove is characterized in that the engagement portion is rotatable when the engagement portion is inserted through the insertion groove.

According to the present invention having such a feature, the opening cylinder portion is formed to communicate with both ends of the insertion hole inside the opening cylinder portion and the insertion hole into which the lens is inserted, so that the lens can reciprocate freely. A locking structure is provided that provides an annular guide groove that is guided and arranged so as to intersect with the axis of the opening cylinder portion. This locking structure further includes an insertion groove that extends along the axis of the opening cylinder part from one end side of the opening cylinder part to the inside of the opening cylinder part and communicates with the annular guide groove. Further, the insertion groove is formed in a size that allows the engagement portion provided at one end of the light guide to be inserted. Furthermore, the annular guide groove can rotate horizontally with respect to the axis of the opening cylinder portion when the engagement portion is inserted through the insertion groove.
As a result, when the lens is inserted from the insertion hole, the lens is guided to a predetermined position by the annular guide groove, and is arranged so as to intersect the axis of the opening cylinder portion. Further, an insertion groove extending from the one end side of the opening cylinder portion to the inside of the opening cylinder portion is provided along the axis of the opening cylinder portion and communicated with the annular guide groove, and the insertion groove is provided at one end of the light guide. The engaging portion is formed in a size that allows insertion. When the engaging portion is inserted into the insertion groove, the engaging portion can be rotated horizontally around the axis of the opening cylinder portion by the annular guide groove, and the engaging portion is rotated to a predetermined range. Engage with the groove.

  The LED unit according to a second aspect of the present invention is the irradiation light conversion device according to the first aspect, wherein a cap for adjusting the color of the irradiation light is attached to the tip of the light guide.

According to the present invention having such a feature, the irradiation light can be adjusted to light having an arbitrary color by mounting the cap for adjusting the irradiation light on the tip of the light guide.
In addition, when using a light guide body that is formed by branching the tip into a plurality of pieces, each tip can irradiate with different irradiation light by attaching different types of caps to each tip.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the lens is guided to a predetermined position by the annular guide groove and is disposed so as to intersect the axis of the opening cylinder portion. In addition, when the light guide is inserted into the insertion groove, the engagement part can be rotated horizontally around the axis of the opening cylinder part by the annular guide groove, and the light guide can be engaged by rotating within a predetermined range. The joint is engaged with the annular guide groove. Thereby, only one of the lens and the light guide can be attached with one locking structure, and both the lens and the light guide can be attached. Then, it becomes unnecessary to manufacture the LED unit for mounting the lens and the LED unit for mounting the light guide according to the application.
Therefore, by mounting various optical components using only one locking structure, it is possible to deal with various uses with only one LED unit, and it is possible to reduce the cost for manufacturing the LED unit. There is an effect.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first aspect of the invention, the following effects can be obtained. That is, by attaching a cap for adjusting the irradiation light to the tip of the light guide, the irradiation light can be adjusted to light having an arbitrary color, and a light guide formed by branching the tip into a plurality of parts is used. In this case, each tip can be irradiated with different irradiation light by attaching different types of caps to the respective tips.
Therefore, there is an effect that the color of the irradiation light can be varied by using only one locking structure.

It is the schematic in a vehicle compartment. It is a disassembled perspective view of the LED unit which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view of a housing. It is a perspective view of a lens. It is a perspective view of a light guide. It is explanatory drawing which shows the method of attaching a lens to an opening cylinder part. It is the perspective view and sectional drawing of a housing of the state which mounted | wore the opening cylinder part with the lens. It is explanatory drawing which shows the method of mounting | wearing an opening cylinder part with a light guide. It is a figure which shows the state which mounted | wore the opening cylinder part with the light guide. It is explanatory drawing which shows the assembly method of an LED unit. It is explanatory drawing which shows the usage method of a LED unit. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other usage method of a LED unit. It is a perspective view of the LED unit which shows the modification based on this invention.

  The first embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle compartment in which the LED unit of the present invention is used, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the LED unit, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a housing, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a lens. FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the light guide, FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a method of mounting the lens on the opening cylinder, and FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a method for attaching the light guide to the opening cylinder, and FIG. 9 is a view showing a state in which the light guide is attached to the opening cylinder. (A) is a perspective view of a housing in a state where a light guide is mounted on an opening cylinder, (b) is a sectional view of an LED unit using the housing shown in (a), and FIG. 10 is an assembly of the LED unit. FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a method of using the LED unit. ) Is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle interior illumination lamp in which the LED unit is used, FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle interior illumination lamp, FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing another method of using the LED unit, and FIG. The figure which shows the back surface of the switch display part in which a unit is used, (b) is a figure which shows the surface of (a).

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 indicates a vehicle interior on the front side of an automobile or the like. The LED unit 2 according to the present embodiment is not particularly limited. For example, the LED unit 2 is used for a vehicle interior illumination light 3 for illuminating the feet of the driver's seat in the vehicle interior 1 (as an example). To do). In addition, for example, it may be used for the vehicle interior illumination lamp 4 attached to a ceiling (it shall be an example).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the LED unit 2 according to the present embodiment includes at least a functional unit 5, a housing 6 that houses the functional unit 5, and an electric wire 8 that is fixed by the electric wire holder 7 and connected to the functional unit 5. It is configured with. The function unit 5 accommodates the LED 9 that emits irradiation light, the bus bar 10 that is connected to the LED 9 and that feeds power to the LED 9 from the electric wire 8, the Zener diode 11 and the resistor 12 that are connected to the bus bar 10, and the bus bar 10. The case 11 is configured to be included. In addition, the housing 6 is provided with an opening cylinder portion 15 through which irradiation light emitted from the LED 9 passes. In addition, this opening cylinder part 15 is provided also as a part with which the lens 25 and the light guide 29 which are mentioned later are mounted | worn. The electric wire holder 7 is for fixing the electric wire 8 that feeds power to the functional unit 5, and the electric wire holder engaging portion 7 a for engaging with an electric wire holder locking portion 18 described later on both side surfaces. Is provided.

Hereinafter, first, each component of the functional unit 5 will be described.
LED9 is what is called a light emitting diode, and is a component which irradiates irradiation light by the supply of electric power. In this embodiment, a chip-type LED is used (assumed as an example).

  The Zener diode 11 is a so-called constant voltage diode and is used for the purpose of obtaining a constant voltage.

  The resistor 12 is a chip-type resistor (electrical resistor) used as a voltage reducing component. In this embodiment, two resistors are provided.

  The bus bar 10 is a circuit component that is formed by bending a conductive metal plate into a predetermined shape and electrically connects a light source and an electric wire. An LED 9 and a Zener diode 11 are connected to the bus bar 10 at one end side. In addition, a pressure contact terminal 14 is provided on the other end side of the bus bar 10 to connect the electric wire 8 by pressure contact. Further, a resistor 12 is connected midway from one end side to the other end side of the bus bar 10.

  The case 13 is formed from a synthetic resin material and is formed in a substantially box shape (the shape is an example). Since the case accommodates the bus bar 10 to which the LED 9, the Zener diode 11, and the resistor 12 are connected, the upper surface is opened, and the functional unit 5 is configured by accommodating the bus bar 10 in the case 13. ing.

Next, the configuration and structure of the housing 6 will be described with reference to FIG.
The housing 6 is formed from a synthetic resin material and is formed in a substantially box shape (the shape is an example). The housing 6 has a ceiling surface 6a, a left side surface 6b, a right side surface 6c, a back surface 6d, and a bottom surface 6e. Further, a surface (a surface facing the rear surface 6d) on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the housing 6 is cut out (see FIG. 3A). This notched portion is formed as a functional part insertion hole 16 for inserting the functional part 5 inside the housing 6. Further, the inside of the housing 6 is formed as a functional part accommodation chamber 17 for accommodating the functional part 5.
In addition, the left side surface 6b and the right side surface 6c are formed with a rectangular cut-out hole in the vicinity of the functional portion insertion hole 16, and the wire holder engaging portions 7a provided on both side surfaces of the wire holder 7 and It is provided as an electric wire holder locking part 18 for performing the engagement.

  The housing 6 is formed with an opening cylinder portion 15 for allowing the irradiation light emitted from the LED 9 to pass therethrough. The opening cylinder 15 is also provided as a part for mounting the lens 25 and the light guide 28 to the housing 6. The opening cylinder 15 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing 6 from the ceiling surface 6a. The opening cylinder portion 15 is opened in a circular shape at one end 19 that is not continuous with the ceiling surface 6a, and an opening portion 20 is formed. Further, the inner side of the opening cylinder part 15 is formed continuously with the functional part accommodating chamber 17 of the housing 6.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, a lens insertion hole (insertion hole) 21 for inserting the lens 25 inside the opening cylinder part 15 is formed on the side surface of the opening cylinder part 15. The lens insertion hole 21 is formed orthogonal to the axial direction of the opening cylinder 15 and penetrates to the inside of the opening cylinder 15. Further, both ends of the lens insertion hole 21 communicate with an annular guide groove 22 to be described later inside the opening cylinder portion 15.

The annular guide groove 22 guides the lens 25 inserted from the lens insertion hole 21 so as to reciprocate inside the opening cylinder portion 15 and disposes the lens 25 at a predetermined position so as to intersect the central axis of the opening cylinder portion 15. Is provided. The annular guide groove 22 communicates with both ends of the lens insertion hole 21 and is provided by forming a concave groove on the inner wall of the opening cylinder portion 15.
Note that a hole like the lens insertion hole 21 is not formed on the side surface opposite to the lens insertion hole 21 and is closed. Therefore, after the lens 25 is inserted from the lens insertion hole 21 and guided to the inside of the opening tube portion 15 by the annular guide groove 22, it does not pass through the opening tube portion 15.

  The opening cylinder portion 15 is provided with a lens locking portion 23 for locking the lens 25 around the periphery of the opening portion 20 in the vicinity of the middle portion of the lens insertion hole 21. The lens locking portion 21 is formed in a concave shape, and extends along the axial direction of the opening tube portion 15 from the one end 19 side of the opening tube portion 15 to the inside of the opening tube portion 15.

  Further, an insertion groove 24 formed so that an engagement portion 31 provided at one end of the light guide 29 can be inserted is provided on the periphery of the opening 20 on the left side 6b side and the right side 6c side of the housing 6 so as to face each other. It has been. The width of the insertion groove 24 is set to be larger than the width of the engaging portion 31. The insertion groove 24 is formed in a concave shape, extends from the one end 19 side of the opening tube portion 15 to the inside of the opening tube portion 15, extends along the axial direction of the opening tube portion 15, and communicates with the annular guide groove 22. Therefore, the engaging portion 31 is configured to enter the annular guide groove 22 when the insertion groove 24 is inserted.

When the engaging portion 31 is inserted into the insertion groove 24 and then enters the annular guide groove 22, by rotating the light guide 29, the engaging portion 31 is moved in the axial direction of the opening tube portion 15 in the annular guide groove 22. In contrast, it can be rotated horizontally. Accordingly, the engaging portion 31 is rotated to a predetermined range in the annular guide groove 22 (specifically, to a position where the insertion groove 24 is not disposed directly above the engaging portion 31), and the engaging portion 31 is rotated to the annular guide groove. By engaging 22, the light guide 29 can be attached to the opening cylinder 15.
As described above, the lens 25 and the light guide 29 are attached to the opening cylinder 15 by the lens insertion hole 21, the annular guide groove 22, the lens locking portion 23, and the insertion groove 24 provided in the opening cylinder 15. A locking structure is configured.

Next, the lens 25 will be described with reference to FIG.
The lens 25 is formed from glass, acrylic resin, polycarbonate resin, or the like. The lens 25 is for adjusting the irradiation light, such as condensing or diffusing the irradiation light, or converting the color of the irradiation light into another color.

  The lens 25 shown in FIG. 4A is a so-called condensing lens 25a for condensing irradiation light. The irradiation light can be condensed by forming a convex portion 26 having a circular arc cross section on the surface of the lens 25. Moreover, the lens 25 shown in FIG. 4B is a so-called diffusion lens 25b for diffusing irradiated light. In order to diffuse the irradiation light, it is possible to perform surface treatment such as forming fine irregularities (not shown) on the surface of the lens 25. Note that the color of the irradiation light can be converted into another color by adding various pigments and phosphors to the material of the lens 25. In this embodiment, when the lens 25 is attached to the opening cylinder portion 15, any of the lenses 25 may be used depending on the application of the LED unit 2.

  The lens 25 is basically circular, but a part of the outer portion facing each other is formed in a straight line, and the width of the facing linear part 27 is set to be equal to or smaller than the width of the lens insertion hole. A convex lens engaging portion 28 that engages with the lens locking portion 23 is formed at one end of the lens 25.

Next, the light guide 29 will be described with reference to FIG.
The light guide 29 is a member for guiding the irradiation light emitted from the LED 9 to a predetermined position. The light guide 29 is formed from a transparent synthetic resin material such as acrylic. One end of the light guide 29 is provided with a connection portion 30 for mounting the light guide 29 to the opening cylinder portion 15. The connection part 30 is formed in a disk shape, and the diameter is set to be equal to or smaller than the diameter of the opening part 20 of the opening cylinder part 15. Further, on the side surface of the connecting portion 30, an engaging portion 31 for engaging with the annular guide groove 22 is set in a convex shape. In the present embodiment, the engaging portion 31 is provided at one end and the other end of the side surface of the connecting portion 30 (assumed to be an example). Further, a light introducing portion 32 for introducing irradiation light into the light guide 29 is formed protruding from the bottom surface of the connecting portion 31. The light introduction part 32 may be formed so as to be close to the LED 9 when the light guide 29 is attached to the opening cylinder part 15. With such a configuration, the distance until the irradiation light irradiated from the LED 9 is introduced into the light introducing portion 32 is shortened, and the light guide loss can be reduced.

A lens 34 is provided at the tip 33 of the light guide 29 (that is, the other end of the light guide 29 with respect to the one end). Then, the light introduced from the light introduction part 32 is repeatedly reflected at the interface between the inside and outside of the light guide 29, reaches the tip 33 of the light guide 29, and causes the lens 34 to emit light.
In the present embodiment, the light guide 29 is in the shape of a long and narrow bar, and is formed by branching into two in the middle and has two tips 33, but is limited to such a configuration and shape. It is not a thing.

Next, a method for attaching the lens 25 to the opening cylinder 15 will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, as shown in FIG. 6A, a lens 25 (in this embodiment, a condensing lens 25a is used toward a lens insertion hole 21 provided in the opening cylinder portion 15, but the present invention is not limited to this. Other than this, for example, a diffuser lens 25b or a lens capable of converting the color of irradiated light in which various dyes or phosphors are added to the lens material into another color may be used. Then, the lens 25 is inserted in the direction of the arrow A shown in the figure. Then, as shown in FIG. 6B, the lens 25 is slid in the direction of the arrow B shown in the figure to be inserted into the lens insertion hole 21.
When the lens 25 is continuously inserted as it is, it is guided into the annular guide groove 22 and inserted into the inside of the opening cylinder portion 15. Then, the lens engaging portion 28 is engaged with the lens locking portion 23, the tip of the lens 25 comes into contact with the wall surface at the position opposite to the lens insertion hole 21, and the lens 25 cannot be inserted any more (FIG. 7 ( b)). Thereby, as shown in FIG. 7, the mounting of the lens 25 to the opening cylinder portion 15 is completed.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, a method for attaching the light guide 29 to the opening cylinder 15 will be described.
First, the light guide 29 is positioned toward the opening 20 of the opening cylinder 15. Here, in the direction of the light guide 29 in FIG. 8A, the engaging portion 31 cannot be inserted into the insertion groove 24. Therefore, the light guide 29 is rotated by 90 ° as shown by the arrow A in FIG. The engaging portion 31 is positioned so that it can be inserted into the insertion groove 24. Next, the light guide 29 is inserted into the opening 20 in the direction of the arrow B shown in the figure. Then, the engaging portion 31 passes through the insertion groove 24 and enters the annular guide groove 22. At the same time, the connecting portion 30 is inserted from the opening portion 20 to the inside of the opening tube portion 15, and the state shown in FIG.
When the light guide 29 is rotated 90 ° in the direction of arrow C shown in FIG. 8B, the engaging portion 31 is also rotated 90 ° in the direction of arrow C in the annular guide groove 22, and the engaging portion 31. It moves to the position where the insertion groove 24 is not arranged right above. Thereby, as shown to Fig.9 (a), an engaging part can be engaged with a cyclic | annular guide groove. Thus, the mounting of the light guide 29 to the opening cylinder portion 15 is completed.

  In addition, according to the LED unit 2 in which the light guide 29 is attached to the opening cylinder portion 15 by the above method, the light introduction portion 32 protrudes from the bottom surface of the connection portion 31 as shown in FIG. The light introduction part 32 and the LED 9 are arranged close to each other. With such a configuration, the distance until the irradiation light irradiated from the LED 9 is introduced into the light introducing portion 32 is shortened, and the light guide loss can be reduced.

Next, an assembly method of the LED unit 2 will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the functional part 5 is inserted into the functional part insertion hole 16 of the housing 6 in a state where either the lens 25 or the light guide 29 is attached to the opening cylinder part 15. When the functional unit 5 is inserted, it is inserted from the side to which the LED 9 is connected. If it does so, when the function part 5 is accommodated in the function part accommodation chamber 17, the opening cylinder part 15, the lens 25, or the light guide 29 will be arrange | positioned directly above LED9. That is, since the lens 25 or the light guide 29 is disposed so as to intersect with the irradiation light emitted vertically from the LED 9, the irradiation light passes through the opening cylinder portion 15 and the lens 25 or the light guide 29. Further, according to the above insertion method, the press contact terminal 14 of the bus bar 10 in the function unit 5 is arranged in the vicinity of the function unit insertion hole 16 in the function unit storage chamber 17.

  And after fixing the electric wire 8 to the electric wire holder 7, if this electric wire holder 7 is inserted in the function part insertion hole 16, the electric wire holder engaging part 7a will be engaged with the electric wire holder latching | locking part 18. FIG. Further, in synchronism with the insertion and engagement of the electric wire holder 7, the electric wire 8 is pressed into contact with the press contact terminal 14, and the functional portion 5 and the electric wire 8 are conductively connected. Thus, the assembly of the LED unit 2 is completed.

Next, the usage method of the LED unit 2 which concerns on a present Example is demonstrated, referring FIG.11 and FIG.12.
The LED unit 2 in which the lens 25 is mounted on the opening cylinder portion 15 is used as, for example, a vehicle interior illumination lamp 35. As shown in FIG. 11, the vehicle interior illumination lamp 35 includes an LED unit 2, a cover 36 assembled to the LED unit 2, and a design portion 37 having a lens portion 38. The design portion 37 is an interior material in the vehicle interior. It is formed in a shape that can pass through 39 openings 40. A cover engaging portion 41 is provided at one end of the upper surface of the design portion 37, and a locking claw portion 42 is provided at the other end.
The vehicle interior illumination lamp 35 is assembled by assembling the cover 36 to the LED unit 2 and then engaging the cover engaging portion 41 with the cover locking portion 43 provided on the side wall of the cover 36.

  Assembling the vehicle interior illumination light 35 to the interior material 39 is first performed by opening the vehicle interior illumination light 35 from the vehicle interior side (lower portion of the interior material 39 in FIG. 11 (a)) with the LED unit 2 side first. And the locking claw portion 42 is brought into sliding contact with the periphery of the opening 40. The locking claw portion 42 has flexibility and is formed so as to be able to bend and deform in the longitudinal direction of the design portion 37. When the locking claw portion 42 is brought into sliding contact with the periphery of the opening 40, the locking claw portion 42 is bent and deformed. After being bent backward and deformed, when it passes through the opening 40, it returns to its original shape. Can be locked to the periphery of the. Thus, as shown in FIG. 11B, the assembly of the vehicle interior illumination light 35 to the interior material 39 is completed.

  In addition, when the condensing lens 25a is employ | adopted as the lens 25 with which the opening cylinder part 15 is mounted | worn, the LED unit 2 which concerns is used for the map lamp, rear reading lamp, etc. in vehicle interiors, such as a motor vehicle (an example). Suppose). Further, when the diffusing lens 25b is employed, the LED unit 2 is used for, for example, a foot lamp, a vanity lamp, a dome lamp, a courtesy lamp, a deck lamp, etc. in a vehicle compartment (an example).

  The LED unit 2 in which the light guide 29 is mounted on the opening cylinder portion 15 is used as, for example, a device for light emission of the switch display 44 and interior decoration in the vehicle interior (assumed as an example). As in the present embodiment, by using the light guide 29 that is branched in the middle and has a plurality of tips 33, the plurality of switch displays 44 can emit light only by using one LED unit 2. (See FIG. 12). Thereby, for example, when there are a plurality of switch displays 44, there is no need to dispose the LED unit 2 for each switch display 44. Moreover, since irradiation light can be reliably transmitted by the light guide 29, even when it is desired to guide the LED unit 2 to a position where it cannot be directly arranged, the light can be guided from a remote place to a target position.

The present invention is not limited to the first embodiment described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following modification 1 of the LED unit may be used.
In the LED unit 2 according to the modified example 1, the lens 25 is inserted from the lens insertion hole 21 in the inside of the opening tube portion 15 and is guided by the annular guide groove 22 to be inserted into the inside of the opening tube portion 15. 23, the engaging portion 31 of the light guide 29 is inserted into the insertion groove 24, and the light guide is rotated within a predetermined range, whereby the engaging portion 31 is The annular guide groove 22 is rotated to a position where the insertion groove 24 is not disposed directly above the engaging portion 31, and the light guide 29 is engaged with the annular guide groove 22.

  According to the above-described configuration and structure, not only one of the lens 25 and the light guide 29 is attached to the opening cylinder portion 15 by one locking structure, but both the lens 25 and the light guide 29 are simultaneously provided. It can be attached to the opening cylinder 15.

In addition to the first modification, for example, a second modification of the LED unit according to the present invention illustrated in FIG. 13 may be used.
In the LED unit 50 according to the second modification, a cap 51 for adjusting the irradiation light is attached to the tip 33 of the light guide 29. Irradiation light can be adjusted to an arbitrary color by adding various pigments and phosphors to the material of the cap 51, for example. Further, in the case of the light guide 29 formed by branching the tip 33 into a plurality, different types of caps 51 are attached to the tips 33 to irradiate different irradiation lights.

According to the present invention, the opening tube portion 15 is formed to communicate with both ends of the lens insertion hole 21 inside the opening tube portion 15 and the lens insertion hole 21 into which the lens 25 is inserted. A locking structure is provided that includes an annular guide groove 22 that is freely guided and arranged so as to intersect with the axis of the opening cylinder portion 15. This locking structure further includes an insertion groove 24 that extends along the axis of the opening cylinder portion 15 from the one end 19 side of the opening cylinder portion 15 to the inside of the opening cylinder portion 15 and communicates with the annular guide groove 22. Further, the insertion groove 24 is formed in a size that allows the engagement portion 31 provided at one end of the light guide 29 to be inserted. Further, the annular guide groove 22 can rotate when the engaging portion 31 is inserted into the insertion groove 24.
As a result, when the lens 25 is inserted from the lens insertion hole 21, the lens 25 is guided to a predetermined position by the annular guide groove 22 and is arranged so as to intersect the axis of the opening cylinder portion 15. Further, an insertion groove 24 is provided extending from the one end 19 side of the opening cylinder portion 15 to the inside of the opening cylinder portion 15 along the axis of the opening cylinder portion 115 and communicating with the annular guide groove 22. The engaging portion 31 provided at one end of the light guide 29 is formed in a size that allows insertion. When the engaging portion 31 is inserted into the insertion groove 24, the engaging portion 31 can rotate in the annular guide groove 22, and the engaging portion 31 engages with the annular guide groove 22 by rotating within a predetermined range. Is done.

In addition, according to the present invention, the irradiation light can be adjusted to light having an arbitrary color by attaching the cap 51 for adjusting the irradiation light to the tip 33 of the light guide 29.
Moreover, when using the light guide 29 in which the tip 33 is branched into a plurality, each tip 33 can irradiate different irradiation light by attaching different types of caps to each tip 33.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13, the present invention configured as described above has the following effects.
That is, the lens 25 is guided to a predetermined position by the annular guide groove 22 and is disposed so as to intersect the axis of the opening tube portion 15. In addition, when the light guide 29 has the engaging portion 31 inserted through the insertion groove 24, the engaging portion 31 can be rotated horizontally around the axis of the opening cylinder portion 15 by the annular guide groove 22, and the predetermined range. , The engaging portion 31 is engaged with the annular guide groove 22. Thereby, only one of the lens 25 and the light guide 29 can be mounted with one locking structure, or both of them can be mounted. Then, there is no need to manufacture the dedicated LED unit 2 for mounting the lens 25 and the dedicated LED unit 2 for mounting the light guide according to the application.
Therefore, by mounting the lens 25 and the light guide 29 using only one locking structure, the single LED unit 2 can be used for various applications, and the cost for manufacturing the LED unit 2 is reduced. Can be reduced.

Further, according to the present invention, in addition to the above effects, the following effects can also be achieved.
That is, by attaching the cap 51 for adjusting the irradiation light to the tip 33 of the light guide 29, the irradiation light can be adjusted to light having an arbitrary color, and the tip 33 is formed by branching into a plurality of colors. When the light body 29 is used, each tip 33 can be irradiated with different irradiation light by attaching different types of caps 51 to the respective tips 33.
Therefore, it is possible to give variations to the color of the irradiation light by using only one locking structure.

  In addition, the present invention can of course be modified in various ways within the scope not changing the gist of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle interior, 2,50 ... LED unit, 3, 4, 35 ... Vehicle interior illumination light, 5 ... Functional part, 6 ... Housing, 6a ... Ceiling surface, 6b ... Left side surface, 6c ... Right side surface, 6d ... Back surface 6e ... Bottom, 7 ... Electric wire holder, 8 ... Electric wire, 9 ... LED, 10 ... Busbar, 11 ... Zener diode, 12 ... Resistor, 13 ... Case, 14 ... Pressure contact terminal, 15 ... Opening cylinder, 16 ... Functional part insertion Hole, 17 ... functional part accommodating chamber, 18 ... electric wire holder locking part, 19 ... one end, 20 ... opening, 21 ... lens insertion hole (insertion hole), 22 ... annular guide groove, 23 ... lens locking part, 24 ... Insertion groove, 25 ... Lens, 25a ... Condensing lens, 25b ... Diffuse lens, 26 ... Convex part, 27 ... Linear part, 28 ... Lens engaging part, 29 ... Light guide, 30 ... Connection part, 31 ... Engagement part 32: Light introducing part, 33 ... Tip, 34 ... Lens, 36 ... Cover, 37 ... Design part, 38 ... Lens part, 39 ... Interior material, 40 ... Opening, 41 ... Cover engaging part, 42 ... Locking claw part 43 ... Cover locking part, 44 ... Switch display, 51 ... Cap

Claims (2)

An LED that emits irradiation light, a functional unit that includes the LED, and a housing that houses the functional unit and forms an opening cylinder that allows the irradiation light to pass through,
The opening cylinder part is formed in a side surface of the opening cylinder part and into which a lens is inserted, and is formed in communication with both ends of the insertion hole inside the opening cylinder part so that the lens can reciprocate freely. In an LED unit comprising a locking structure that is provided with an annular guide groove that is guided to and arranged to intersect with the axis of the opening cylinder portion,
The locking structure further includes an insertion groove that extends along the axis of the opening cylinder part from one end side of the opening cylinder part to the inside of the opening cylinder part, and communicates with the annular guide groove,
The insertion groove is formed in a size that allows an engagement portion provided at one end of a light guide that guides the irradiation light to be inserted,
The said annular guide groove can rotate the said engaging part when the said engaging part is inserted in the said insertion groove. The LED unit characterized by the above-mentioned. The LED unit according to claim 1,
An LED unit, wherein a cap for adjusting the color of the irradiation light is attached to a tip of the light guide.

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